Tag Archives: belgium

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Belgium, De Dolle Brouwers

De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2021

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Brewery: De Dolle Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 12%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
Other Notes: 2021 vintage

Brewer Description: As far as I could work out for the 2021, Stille Nacht aged for 2 years in barrels that once held red wine.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.13

Intro: A 330ml bottle, 2021 vintage, bottled in June 2023. Poured into whatever glass I could find at the hotel.
Appearance: A hazy golden dark orange colour, with a thin white head that dissipated quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Boozy, brandy soaked pineapple, apple juice, orange zest, oak, vanilla, with a brandy finish.
Taste: Sweet, orange, marmalade, pineapple, apricot, vinous, oak, vanilla, brandy.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper with an especially wonderful aroma and strong barrel character.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Lambic - Fruit, Pellicle Vergistingen

Pellicle Collision: Gelber Muskateller

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Brewery: Pellicle Vergistingen
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2024 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This beer is a blend of 1 & 2 year old lambics and our very first self brewed beer from 2,5 years old. It was macerated on Gelber Muskateller grapes from Nahe, Germany and blended with 30% of wine made from the same grapes. Aged on ex-Bordeaux barrels.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, with a best before date of May 2027. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A mostly clear golden colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, yellow stone fruit, peach, apricot, sweet fleshy white wine grapes, citrus orange notes, with some vinous notes.
Taste: Sour, tart, white wine grapes, yellow stone fruit, apricot, nectarines, citrusy, orange peel, a touch of honey, and light vinous notes with a slight funk on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: Great aroma and flavours, and just drinks really well.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Lambic - Fruit, Pellicle Vergistingen

Pellicle Satureja

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Brewery: Pellicle Vergistingen
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2024 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) In 2022 we macerated Gorsem cherries on 2 year old lambic and barrel aged it after 6 months of maceration for another year. In 2023 we did the same; maceration of Gorsem cherries on 2 year old lambic for 6 months. We blended these 2 cherry lambics together and added fresh Satureja herb to them.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.37

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, 2024 vintage, with a best before date of January 2027. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A very nice deep ruby red colour with a one finger pink head that had good retention, and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Tart, cherry, blackberry, sweet mandarin, lemon zest, with a hint of thyme.
Taste: Sour, tart, cherry, marzipan notes, almond, lemon zest, and a hint of herbal like thyme (which I’m guessing is from the satureja).
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Nice aroma and flavours with an interesting herbal touch that works well with the cherries.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Bofkont, Lambic - Fruit

Bofkont Barbera (White Label)

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Brewery: Bofkont
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2021 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Blend of 1, 2, 3, years old lambic with Barbera grapes from Piëmonte in Italy. The blend is a collaboration with our friends from La Carlina Winery near Alba. This blend had a second fermentation in the bottle.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, 2021 vintage, bottled on 16th December 2022. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A deep reddish purple colour, with a one finger pink head, that had decent retention, while leaving sparse lacing.
Aroma: Tart, grape skin, red wine vinous, cherry, light funk, lemon zest.
Taste: Light sour, tart, red wine vinous, grape skin, cherry, with a slight hint of booze.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Very vinous with good enjoyable aroma and flavours. But perhaps one of the few beers I prefer less carbonation.

5 - Excellent (must buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Girardin, Lambic - Gueuze

Girardin Gueuze Black Label

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Brewery: Brouwerij Girardin
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5%
Style: Lambic – Gueuze

Brewer Description: Unfiltered version.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.5
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle. Bottled in 2017. Poured into a The Lambic Basket gueuze glass.
Appearance: A hazy dark golden orange colour, with a pillowy two finger white head, that had great retention, eventually settling to a thin cap, while leaving nice lacing.
Aroma: Red apple, lemon, lime, wood shavings, damp wood, musty, funk, with notes of lemon zest.
Taste: Lightly sour, red apple, grapefruit peel, wood shavings, oak, a touch bitter, lemon zest, funk.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: One of my favourite regular gueuze’s out there. Lovely aroma and flavours with a nice complexity that aligns with my palate.